A GANG of men viciously beat a Gwent teenager out walking his dog in an apparently motiveless attack.

Gavin Hawkins, pictured, ended up in hospital with a fractured jaw, a broken wrist, a swollen eye and a suspected broken nose after being attacked along Victoria Drive in Ebbw Vale at 9.30pm on Friday.

Five men, all believed to be in their early 20s, drove off in the direction of Ebbw Vale town centre after leaving a battered Mr Hawkins in the road following a frenzied ten minute beating.

The 19-year-old had only moved to the area from Ty-Sign in Risca in the last fortnight and is utterly at a loss as to why he was targeted.

He is now too scared to go out even in daylight in case "the gang want to finish off what they started".

Mr Hawkins said: "I was walking my golden retriever puppy when a Ford Fiesta pulled up alongside me that had five young lads in.

"They jumped out and pretended to be fussing over the dog but then they started tormenting me and one of them took a swipe at me and they all piled in.

"It was five against one so I didn't have a chance but even if it was one on one, I would have walked away because I'm not a violent person.

"I have absolutely no idea why it happened - I've only been in the area for a few weeks so there is no reason for anybody to know who I am. It was either a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time or a case of mistaken identity. It was not a nice welcome to the town."

The gang was driving a dark blue or purple R-registration Ford Fiesta. The main perpetrator of the assault is around 6ft 2in tall with dark short hair and was wearing a green, sleeved jumper.

PC Sergeant Nathan Jones of Ebbw Vale police said: "This was a nasty assault and it appears to be motiveless. I would urge anyone with information to contact Ebbw Vale police on 01495 350999."

Or contact Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.